1. Smt. Naraini mortgaged land, measuring 69 Kanals, 13 Marlas, with Radha Kishan for Rs. 634/- on Phagun 7, 1994. Bk. She died leaving behind her daughter Smt. Bhagi. She (Smt. Bhagi) too died leaving behind her sons, viz., Ved Parkash alias Baldev Raj (Respondent 2), Munshi Ram and Har Bhagwan, and two daughters, viz., Smt. Bhan Devi and Vidya Devi, Baldev Raj died issueless. He had sold his share in the land to Ranjodh Singh, Ranjit Singh, Ranbir Singh and Surjit Kaur. Har Bhagwan died leaving behind his widow, Smt. Barma Devi, son Mahesh Chand, and daughters Narma Devi and Bimla Devi, who are respondents in this appeal, Radha Kishan had died during the pendency of this appeal and his adopted son Sukhdev Dass had been brought on record in his place.

2. On August 9, 1966, Radha Kishan brought suit for possession of the aforesaid land, alleging that it had been mortgaged with him for more than sixty years back and he had been in its possession. It was averred that some of the mortgagors had made an application for redemption of the land under the provisions of the Redemption of Mortgages (Punjab) Act II of 1913, which was dismissed by the Collector, Bhatinda, on December 1